Annie (1982)
By Sarah Wenk,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic orphan tale has great songs, some iffy content.
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Annie (1982)
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Sexualization in front of children
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Your missing the point
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What's the Story?
In this film version of the Broadway musical -- itself based on the classic comics -- about Depression-era orphan ANNIE (Aileen Quinn), the optimistic, determined red-headed child perseveres in spite of indignities and cruel treatment at the hands of neglectful orphanage director Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett). Ever hopeful Annie dreams of the day that her parents will arrive to retrieve her, often singing songs and dancing to the delight of the other orphans. Hoping to boost his public image, billionaire Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks (Albert Finney) takes Annie in for a week at his swanky Manhattan mansion. Annie's kindness and gratitude win over her new caretakers, but Miss Hannigan and her cronies Lily (Bernadette Peters) and Rooster (Tim Curry) see an opportunity to increase their cash flow by claiming they're Annie's "true" family.
Is It Any Good?
This beloved adaptation of the Broadway musical is sometimes uneven, but its charms take over by the end. The songs in Annie are a mixed bag -- "Dumb Dog" is just not all that good, but you'll have "It's the Hard-Knock Life" stuck in your head for days, and by the time Annie sings "Tomorrow" to President Roosevelt, you'll be singing it along with her.
Some of the performances are outstanding, particularly Burnett as Miss Hannigan. In the title role of Annie, Quinn is a fine singer, if not all that dynamic otherwise. The orphan girls are fun, and Finney is wonderfully brusque but really an old softy as Daddy Warbucks. One definite issue is the racist portrayal of Warbucks' bodyguards, Punjab and The Asp. Be sure to talk to kids about why this kind of representation is problematic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about musicals like Annie. Why do you think musicals have been popular, both on Broadway and in film?
Talk about how characters of color are portrayed in Annie. What kinds of stereotypes do you recognize? How does that affect your enjoyment of the movie? Has society changed since this movie was made?
How do the characters in Annie demonstrate courage, gratitude, and perseverance? Why are those important character strengths?
What message do you think the filmmakers want viewers to take away from watching? Do you think Annie's rags-to-riches journey is one that people can actually achieve in real life? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 9, 1982
- On DVD or streaming: August 1, 2004
- Cast: Aileen Quinn , Albert Finney , Carol Burnett
- Director: John Huston
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures , Great Girl Role Models , Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Courage , Gratitude , Perseverance
- Run time: 127 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: peril
- Last updated: June 4, 2023
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